Simplicity pattern 7161 is a good one. I used to make them and sell them for $20 and people bought them like crazy. I sold them mostly to people at my mom's work and family friends but most of the time when I got orders, they were upwards of $80. The pattern is a little confusing but once you figure it out, you can make one in about an hour. I hope you get your money in time, I was supposed to have a trip to London, Paris, and Madrid over spring break but it got cancelled... .

Simplicity pattern 7161 is a good one. I used to make them and sell them for $20 and people bought them like crazy. I sold them mostly to people at my mom's work and family friends but most of the time when I got orders, they were upwards of $80. The pattern is a little confusing but once you figure it out, you can make one in about an hour.

BlueJeanBaby, what is the pattern for? I looked on ebay and got responses as skirts, bags, blazers, etc. Is it a recent pattern?

It's a pattern for a purse. It's a hobo-type bag.....here's the link: http://simplicity.com/dv1_v4.cfm?design=7161 It's the denim one in the lower corner. It's not the cutest purse (to me anyway) but people went crazy over them. That isn't the exact pattern that I have though, it wasn't sewing for dummies, it was It's So Easy but it's the same purse.

I know this is hideously off-topic, but do you live in/near Chesterfield? If so, I'm in that delegation and going then too! I'm raising $2000 for my trip too, so I know how it feels to be tight-pressed for cash.

I'm making card purses with fabric interior and suede handles to sell at the local Bridge center. When I get a laminator, I can make them look really professional and sell them for about $20. $20 is a really good idea because if you think you can make 100 things and sell them, then thats $2000, not subtracting supply fees. It's a really easy way to set up goals and ideas to fund it. If you made some really cute purses too, you could raffle them off. ^.^

Another idea, not purse related, would be no-sew fleece scarves, blankets and pillows. If you sold them now in the cold weather and offered a few different fleece designs, they would sell like wildfire. Here's some links.

The Present has no futureThe future has no pastThe past is just a graveyardFor the lonely ghost regeretIt's so hard to say good-byeWhen I shake too much to holdLet this blood within me runSo I can see the answers dryRX Bandits

In addition to the placemats, you can also find cheap cheap cheap ones at Goodwill and such used...just make sure they don't have stains. You could get more for your money, just wash them first and they are usually funky and unique there as well. Any kind of consignments are a plus.

With summer coming on, you could turn your long jeans into shorts for the summer and have material to use for purses. Just cut the length off the leg, leave this piece with the right side out; sew the hemmed end shut. You can add beads or some other trim to the bottom. For the top, sew a circle about the size of a quarter using a satin stitch, about 2 inches down from the top, clip out the center. Turn under about 1/4 inch and sew, or serge if the material is not too thick; then turn under again 1 to 2 inches, making sure this part is just below the hole you just made. Sew all the way around This will be the pocket for your drawstring. You can use rope or make a drawstring from more of the jean material. If you want a bag with the string on both sides, just put holes in both sides. With no raw ends showing, you don't need a liner. You can get as fancy as you want with the drawstrings or trim. Have fun and good luck!